Marine flare



Sept. 25, 1945.

F. L. OGLE MARINE FLARE Filed Oct. 7, 1943 9 L I6 HT H YDRU CA RBONFRANK LAWSON OGLEL Patented Sept. 25, 1945 2,385,316 MARINE FLARE FrankLawson Ogle, Liverpool, England, assignor to Imperial C m ca In ustriesimi ed; acorporation of Great Britain Application October 7, 1943,Serial No. 505,416

' In Great Britain October 7, 1942 7 Claims. o1. 9-83) This inventionrelates to marine flares.

It is an object of this invention to produce a marine flare which can bemanufactured with a high degree of safety, and which will be actuatedbyplaeing the same in water. i

It is another object of this invention to produce a marine flare whichwhen placed in water will have a delayed action.

It is a further object of this invention to produce a marine flare inwhich the flare-producing materials are sealed with water soluble plugswhich are automatically removed by contact with water.

Other objects of the invention will be evident from the followingdescription.

- The accompanying illustration, which will be hereafter referred to indetail, is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view of a flare constructedin accordance with the invention.

According to the present invention, a marine flare comprises a closedmetal container adapted to float in water, which container isdividedinto two compartments capable of being put into com- Inunicati-onthrough a passage or passages. normallyclosedby a solid combustible oreasily fusible body, the one compartment containing a light hydrocarbonsuch as paraffin, benzene or petrol, and the second an alkali metal suchas sodium; the said second compartment being adapted to admit Water whenthe device is thrown into water, andhaving a portion above the waterlevel witha relatively weak wall capable of being disrupted as a resultof the reaction of the alkali metal with the water, thereby opening thecompartment to the atmosphere. Advantageously the relatively weak wallis a metal closure soldered onby a low-melting solder.

When such a device is thrown into water, water enters the compartmentcontaining the alkali metal, whereby sufiicient heat is generated bothto disrupt the relatively weak portion of the compartment and to causethe plug or seal in the passage or passages joining the two compartmentsto burn or fuse. and thus to admit the hydrocarbon to thesodium-containing compartmerit-and cause it tocatch fire.

If desired the metal container may also contain other compartmentscontaining smoke-producing materials or the materials to producecoloured lights. Such other compartments may also be adapted tocontainlarge quantities of a cheaper, more difiicultly combustible or heavieroil which will float onwater, and-to release the oilhwhen the flare isthrown into thewater. On throwing the device into water. theoil--wil1-be dispersed on, the water and will be set alight by the firegenerated by the sodium and the light hydrocarbon.

To retain such oil in the container before it is thrown into the waterand to prevent the prior decomposition of the sodium, the appropriatecompartments may be sealed with water-soluble plugs. or. they may eachhave a perforated wall over which a cap is normally fitted and which canbe removed before the device is thrown or projected, into the water.Alternatively the alkali metal-containing compartment may be sealed andthe container punctured before it is thrown. into the water at a placewhich will be below the water level. The use of'a water-soluble plug hasthe advantage that there is a time lag between throwing the deviceintowater and the onset of the reaction of the water with the alkalimetal. This allows the lifeboat or other vessel from, which the flareisthrown to get clear of the flare before it lights up.

In one form, ofthe invention the metal container hasone centralcylindrical compartment with an annular compartment around it, the wallcommon to the two having perforations orslots sealed by, for example,tin foil or a low-melting solder. The device is weighted so that whenthrown into water it will float with oneend of the central compartmentbelow the water and the other above it. The outer compartment has acloseable" opening through which it can be filled with petrol, paraflinor the like. The inner compartment has at the lowerend a perforatedbottom whoseperforations aresealed by a watersoluble plug, andat theupper end a plate carrying a removable lid through which the alkalimetal can be introduced and inwhich is a small orifice through which gascan escape slowly. Both the sealed perforated bottom and the plate atthetop are rendered air-tight. and watertight by a very light gauge platesoldered on, each of which is in turn protected againstmechanical-damage by a lid of heavier gauge. held on byfriction, andprovidedwith a cutter by whichthe light gauge plate canbe-cutoff whenthe flare is to be used. Insteadot having a perforated'lid. at. the endswhich are protected by air-tightlids to be cut away, singleclosures maybeprovided at each end sealed on by low melting solder, and thenecessary openings made before use by puncturing.

The outer compartment is filled with paraffin, petrolorthe like, and amassofallcali' metal, e. gt, sodium, is putinto-the inner compartment.The: closures are then put on-the latter compart ment and the device canthen be stored indefinitely.

When it is desired to use the flare the outer loose lid over each end ofthe inner compartment is removed, and the thin gauge seals cut ofi bythe cutters. The device is then thrown into the water. Water enters theinner compartment through the perforations below the water level whilethe gas displaced by it escapes by the small orifice at the top and thewater reacts with the sodium. Gas is generated more rapidly than it canescape through the orifice in the upper lid, and this and the heatgenerated by the reaction causes the lid to be blown off and the sodiumto catch fire. The tin foil is thus melted, whereby the petrol or otherlight hydrocarbon in the outer compartment is admitted to the flaimingsodium and itself takes fire. 7

Referring to the above-mentioned illustration, the central cylindricalcompartment I has an annular compartment 2 surrounding it for its wholelength except for a short portion at either end allowing caps 3 and I2to be fitted over the ends of the compartment I. The one end ofcompartment I closed by cap 3 has a perforated bottom 5 sealed by a plug6 of water-soluble material and outside this is soldered on a plate I4of; light gauge material. The other end of compartment I is closed by asheet of light gauge metal 4, which is soldered on, and has within it aclosure I, carrying a lever lid I3. Lid I3 has a small opening 8. Aloose cover I2 over the cap 4 is fitted with a small'cutter (not shown)by which the thin metal sheetfi can be opened when the apparatus isused. Cap 3 is similarly provided with a cutter for removing the plateI4. The wall of compartment I has a number of slots 9 (one of which isshown) sealed by tin foil soldered on, through which slots the innercompartment I communicates with the outer compartment 2 when the foil isremoved. The latter compartment has ballast I!) fixed to'the same end ofthe flare as perforated bottom 5 of compartment I to ensure that whenthrown into Water the device will float with the bottom 5 in the waterand opening 8 above it. The container 2 can be filled with petrol,parafiin, or the like by means of a screw cap I I.

When the apparatus is prepared for use, the water-soluble plug 6 isapplied, compartment I is. charged with sodium or other alkali metalthrough lid I2, and afterwards plates 4 and I are soldered on.Compartment 2 is filled with petrol or its equivalent through screw capII and cap 3 and cover I2 are put on. Caps 3 and I2 protect the metalsheets 4 and I4 from damage and provide the cutting instrument forremoving them when desired. I

To use the flare, caps 3 and I2 are used to cut off the metal sheets 4and I4 and are then removed, and the device is thrown into water. Itautomatically floats with the perforated bottom 5 of the compartment Ibelow water, so that after a short interval Water dissolves away plug 6and enters the compartment l, air being displaced throughtheopening 8.The water will thus .reactwith the sodium and generate hydrogen, so thatlid I3 is blown oil, and the remaining sodium catches fire. The tin foilsealing slots 9 is thus melted so that the petrol or its equivalent isadmitted to the flaming sodium and itself catches fire. Depending on therelative strengths of the lid I3 and the seals on slots 9 either may bedisrupted first, and in some cases it may be prefer- .able for the'sealson slots 9 to be broken first,

partly by the heat, and partly by the pressure generated in compartmentI.

I claim:

l. A marine flare comprising a container which will float in water in agiven position, said container having a compartment containing a lighthydrocarbon and a compartment containing an alkali metal, said alkalimetal-containing compartment having an opening therein below the waterlevel to permit flow of water to said compartment when said container isafloat, partitioning means between said compartments, said partitioningmeans composed of a material which will be removed as a result of thereaction of water and alkali metal to form a passageway between saidcompartments, and means actuated by the pressure generated by saidreaction to open said alkali metal-containing compartment to theatmosphere.

2. A marine flare comprising a container which will float in water in agiven position, said container having a compartment containing a lighthydrocarbon and a compartment containing an alkali metal, said alkalimetal-containing compartment having an opening therein below the waterlevel to permit flow of water to said compartment when said container isafloat, a watersoluble sealing means over said opening, partitioningmeans between said compartments, said partitioning means composed of amaterial which will be removed as a result of the reaction of water andalkali metal to form a passageway between said compartments, and meansactuated by the pressure generated by said reaction to open said alkalimetal-containing compartment to the atmosphere.

3; A marine flare comprising a container which will float in water in agiven position, said container having a compartment containing a, lighthydrocarbon and a compartment containing an alkali metal, said alkalimetal-containing compartment having an opening therein below the waterlevel to permit flow of water to said compartment when said container isafloat, said alkali metal-containing compartment having a vent to theatmosphere above the surface of the water, partitioning means betweensaid compartments, said partitioning means composed of a material whichwill be removed as a result of the reaction of water and alkali metal toform a passageway between said compartments, and means actuated by thepressuregenerated by said reaction to open saidalkali metal-containingcompartment to the atmosphere. 4. A marine flare comprising a containerwhich will float in water in a'given position, said container having acompartment containing a light hydrocarbon and a compartment containingan alkali metal, said alkali metal-containing compartment having anopening therein below the water'level to permit fiowof water to saidcompartment when said container is afloat, said alkali metal-containingcompartment having a vent to the atmosphere above the surface of thewater, a water-soluble sealing means, over the said opening,partitioningmeans between said compartments, said partitioning meanscomposed of a material which will be removed as a result of thereactionof water and alkali metal to form a passageway between saidcompartments, and means actuated by the pressuregenerated by saidreaction to open said alkali metal-containing compartment to theatmosphere.

M 5. Amarine,fiarecomprisinga container which will float inwater in agiven position, said container having a compartment containing a lighthydrocarbon and a compartment containing an alkali metal, said alkalimetal-containing compartment having an opening therein below the waterlevel to permit flow of water to said compartment when said container isafloat, a soldered metal foil between said compartments, and meansactuated by the pressure generated by said reaction to open said alkalimetal-containing compartment to the atmosphere.

6. A marine flare comprising a container which will float in water in agiven position, said container having a compartment containing a lighthydrocarbon and a compartment containing an alkali metal, said alkalimetal-containing compartment having an opening therein below the waterlevel to permit flow of water to said compartment when said container isafloat, said alkali metal-containing compartment having a vent to theatmosphere from said compartment above the surface of the water, asoldered metal foil between said compartments, and means actuated by thepressure generated by said reaction to open said alkali meta1-containingcompartment to the atmosphere.

'7. A marine flare comprising a container which will float in water in agiven position, said container having a compartment containing a lighthydrocarbon and a compartment containing an alkali metal, said alkalimetal-containing compartment having an opening therein below the waterlevel to permit flow of water to said compartment when said container isafloat, said alkali metal-containing compartment having a vent to theatmosphere from said compartment above the surface of the water, awater-soluble sealing means over the said opening, a soldered metal foilbetween said compartments, and means actuated by the pressure generatedby said reaction to open said alkali metal-containing compartment to theatmosphere.

FRANK L. OGLE.

